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Preston Stone finds RJ Maryland for clutch SMU touchdown vs. Nevada

Wade-Peeryby:Wade Peery•08/24/24
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(Matt Visinsky - On3)

The SMU Mustangs were struggling for most of the night on Saturday night. But rest assured, they found their best stuff when the needed it, late in the fourth quarter against Nevada. Quarterback Preston Stone and tight end RJ Maryland connected several times on a clutch drive in the final few minutes.

The biggest throw came when Stone connected with Maryland for a 34-yard touchdown pass down the left sideline. It was a game-winning touchdown catch with 1:18 left in the fourth quarter.

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Mustangs tight end R.J. Maryland fully extended his body in the end zone for the catch, bringing in one of the best catches of Week 0.

The Mustangs outscored the Wolfpack 16-0 in the fourth quarter to win, 29-24. It was a hard-fought victory, and it certainly wasn’t pretty, but Preston Stone and RJ Maryland found the freon in their veins when their team desperately needed it.

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Maryland hauled in eight catches for 162 yards and a touchdown, once again showcasing why he’s one of the best tight ends in the nation. It took him three quarters to show up, but once he did, the Nevada defense simply could find no way to stop him down the stretch. Especially in the final few minutes.

SMU finally showed up in the fourth quarter

The Mustangs were getting whipped most of the game by the Wolfpack and things were looking bleak. Turnovers, penalties, botched snaps on punts. You name it. It all went wrong in the first half for SMU. But for whatever the reason, the Mustangs finally found their groove when they needed it in the fourth quarter in Reno.

In the fourth quarter, SMU outscored Nevada 16-0, outgaining them with 191 yards of total offense to just 54 for Nevada. The Mustangs averaged 8.7 yards per play in the fourth quarter, converting four of their five third downs, too.

The SMU defense had gotten gashed by Nevada quarterback Brendon Lewis for much of the game. He had over 200 all-purpose yards and two touchdowns on Saturday night. He carried the Wolfpack for much of the contest and they had trouble finding any answers to stop him.

The Mustangs’ defense did have a critical safety in the fourth quarter, drilling Nevada in their own end zone with 7:19 remaining. That cut the Nevada lead to 24-23. And RJ Maryland and Preston Stone did the rest in the final few minutes, allowing SMU to escape Reno with a win!